The Washington critic., 1887-08-01
THE GARFIELD HOSPITAL.
A Noble and Successful Memorial to
the Late President.
ITS INCEPTION AND PROGRESS.
A Splendid Tribute to the Zeal
Of the Ladies' Aid Society.

President to commemorate his sufferlngs
by the founding OF an institution which
should be devoted, so far as possible, to al
leyiating the sufferings OF humanity; to aid
those In sickness who are not able to pro.
vide for themselves, and TO provide place
where all can go and receive necessary
treatment by faculty Of thoroughly com
petent practitioners. The hospital was not
founded with a spirit Of rivalry, but upon
'hs same broad ground which others stand
. desire to benefit suffering humanity, and
to locate here 10 the Nations Capital q
place which shall be national In It's char
acter, not confined to the treatment OF any
class to be defined by age, sex, color, or re.
liglous belief, but to extend the needed aid
to suffering humanity in its hour OF trial
simply because they are members OF the
great family Of whom the Master has said:
"lnasmuch as ye have done II unto the
least OF one OF these, my brethren, ye have
done 1t unto me.n
ITS INCEPTION.
1t began In call for public meeting,
signed by many physicians OF the city and
other philanthrOpic men Of high standing.
Steps were Immediately taken to organize
q corporation under the laws OF the Dis
trict, q committee Of twenty-five being ap-
poilted for that purpose, Of which General
Sherman was the chairman. An examina-
tion Of these laws showed such defects and
imperfections that the association applied
to Congress, and, on Its petition, amend.
ments have been made Of very liberal
character, applicable to all benevolent and
| charitable corporations. Congress also
| authorized the Society for the Home OF
| Soldiers Orphans, which had accomplished
| It's mission, to transfer its property TO the
Garfield Memorial Hospital. Contribu
| tions were received In money from all parts
| of the United States, aud from Europe and
| other foreign countries.
They have beautiful site, overlooking
| the entire city Of Washington, In full view
OF the Capitol, the Washington Monument
and the Potomac River, seven acres Of
| ground just without the city limits, with a
building to accommodate one hundred or
| more patients, on a spot So charming as to
make one almost willing to be sick that he
may enjoy the beauties Of the place.
In the success OF this work II is impos-
sible to estimate at their full value the ser
vices Of the ladies. From the first they
took q lively interest In the matter, aud
they soon organized themselves into an AS.
ISOLATION called the Ladies' Aid Society.
They held fairs, garden parties, and solicited
subscriptions, and their contributions
amounted to thousands OF dollars.
| IScoRPoRAToRs.
The following well-known people were
the incorporators Of the hospital: Samuel
F. Miller, Eliza N. Blair, William Window,
Jean NJ. Lauder, James Gllillan, Fannie
Ricketts,, James B. Edmonds, Lewis J..
Davis, Reginald Fendall, Samuel q. Busey,
Miranda Tullock, John 8. Billings, Corne-
lia w. Ferris, Alexander Y. z. Garnett,
John A. Baker, Henry A. Willard, Benja-
min q. Lovejoy, Smith Townshend, John
W. Thompson, j. Ford Thompson, Mary
Z. Blair, Carrie s. Harrison, Matilda W.
Emory, Josiah Dent, d. G. Swain, james
g: Blaine, William G. Palmer, E. Francis
Riggs, stella B. Conger,, Joseph X: Mccain
Graham Bell, j. Ormond Wilson, William
A. Leonard, James II. Savllle and William
Il. Netzerott.
Directors-Mr. Justice Samuel F. Miller,
president; Mr.. Henry A. Willard, first vice
president; Mr.. John A. Baker, second vice.
president; Mr.. A. Walton Fleming, secre.
tary; DR.. John $. Billings, U. s. A.; Mrs.
Eliza N. Blair, Mr.. Reginald Fendali, Mrs,
Carrie s, Harrison, Mrs. Jean Margaret
g. Lovejoy, Mr.. Joseph X. McCammon, Mrs
Fanny Ricketts,, Mr. L. Francis Riggs, Mr..
John W. Thompson.
Medical Stafr-John Frederick May, NJ.
d., president; Swan NJ. Burnett, NJ. D., sec
retary; Alexander Y. p. Garnett, NJ. d..
William W. Johnston, NJ. D.; Nathan S.
Lincoln, NJ. D.; James ". IL. Lovejoy, NJ
son, NJ. D.; j. NJ. Toner, NJ. d Ralph
Walsh, NJ. D.; William May, NJ. D.; Win.
Ii. Hawkes., NJ. ID B. q. Pole, NJ. D.
Consulting Staif-Drs. Garnett, Johnston,
Lincoln, Mackall, May and Toner.
Attending staG.Drs. Loveioy, Thomp'
son, Burnett and Walsh.
MicroscopIst-Edwsrd NJ. schaefIer, VI. D.
Resident PhysIcian-William NJ. sprigg
MD.
Matron-Mrs. NJ. E. Vanderbilt.
Executive Committee-Mr. Reginald Fen
dali, chairman; Mrs. Eliza N. Blair, Mrs
Fanny Ricketts,, Mr.. Joseph X. McCammon
Mr.. Henry A. Willard.
Committee on Ways and Means-Mr. J
". Thompson, chairman; Mr.. John A
Baker, Mrs. Jean NJ. Lander, Rev. W. A
Leonard, D. D., DR.. John s. Billings, U. s
Army.
Finance Committee = Mr.. Z. Franci
Riggs, chairman; Mr.. b. G. Loveloy, Mrs
Jean NJ. Lander.
Officers of tho Ladies' Aid Association
Mrs. John A. Logan, president, Illinois
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, first vice-president
yice-president, District OF Columbia Mrs
Earl English, third vice.president, New
jersey; Mrs. Gardiner G. Hubbard, fourtl
vice.presdent, Massachusetts; Mrs. ienr.
A. Willard, fifth vice-president, District o
Columbia, Mrs. Henry W. Blair, core
spending secretary, New Hampshire; Mrs
J, Russell selfridge, recording secretary
Tullock, treasurer, New Hampshire.
GENERAL WORK,
The general work of the hospital has beer
most encouraging. A large addition ha
been erected through the energy and perse
verance OF the Ladies' Aid Association
There have been more patients admitted thar
was expected, and treatment has been ex
ceptionGlly successful. The hospital is rap
idly acquiring reputation for the treat
ment OF disease In Its different forms, ant
ia rapidly advancing II to the front rank o
institutions OF Its character In the United
States, and the uame of Garfield will b.
kept In honoIed remembrance fer futur,
generations through this hospital, as vel
as upon the pages OF history.
There has been recently opened In til,
hospital two wards, one for male and on,
female patients incurables), aud this Il
the only institution In the District whicl
has such ward and which will receive In
curables, and great credit Is due the ladie
for the spirit which established this charity
Another feature which will add greatly to IL
advantage is commodous operating room
arranged IN the form OF an amphitheatre
where all operations will take place. From
this room to the third story VIII run one o
Otis best elevators, large enough TO re
ceiye a bed. After undergoing treatmen
the patient will be placed upoI
bed, wheeled to the elevate
and thus taken to his room
wherever 1t may be, without being compelle,
to submit to handling and jar which ii
many cases causes fatal results where sucl
elect is unnecessary. No pains or expens
will be spared which will give comfort o
safety to the patient, and In the future Gar
field Memorial Hospital Is destined to staut
at the head OF Its class. In the new winl
there are twentyfour rooms, twelve 70
each sex, which can bo taken by persons de
string to employ physicians not connected